This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 11:00 am: Arsenal vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- 11:00 am: Aston Villa vs. Chelsea
- 11:00 am: Fulham vs. Newcastle United
- 11:00 am: Leeds United vs. West Bromwich Albion
- 11:00 am: Leicester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur
- 11:00 am: Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace
- 11:00 am: Manchester City vs. Everton
- 11:00 am: Sheffield United vs. Burnley
- 11:00 am: West Ham United vs. Southampton
- 11:00 am: Wolverhampton vs. Manchester United
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Mohamed Salah, LIV v. CRY ($23): There's no question Salah will be the most popular player in Sunday's final slate. Liverpool need to win and have the highest-implied goal total and best odds to win by a decent margin. Despite disappointing midweek, I'm not sure anyone will be swayed from Salah given his hefty goal odds. I wrote about Salah against Burnley and I feel similarly for Sunday. While he didn't live up to the billing last match, I'm not sure that matters. Crystal Palace have allowed multiple goals in six of their last seven, with the lone positive result a win against Sheffield United. As usual, the best way to win a GPP is by fading Salah and taking his teammates, Sadio Mane ($21) and Roberto Firmino ($18). Neither has much of a floor, and Firmino probably has better upside, mainly because he's getting more shots on target of late. For cash games, you can use Salah and get away with him having another down match. But when he braces and hits 40 fantasy points, you'll be there to benefit. You're picking Liverpool players for the goals and it's a perfect matchup. It's the final match for Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson, but he already said after Wednesday's game that he doesn't have the type of team that performs well on short weeks, which is why they faltered at the end of last season. In fact, the last two matchups between these teams have not gone well for Palace: Liverpool won 7-0 earlier this season and also 4-0 last June. Over two matches, they have 35 shots (15 on target) compared to eight (three on target) for Palace. While you could take a flier on one of the midfielders, it's rare that those guys produce, and on a huge slate, getting 10 floor points isn't a big deal if they're a long shot to score.
Jesse Lingard, WHU v. SOU ($18): There isn't a team that really stands out behind Liverpool, mainly because the home sides in the best situations may not play their top squads (Man City). Chelsea and Arsenal are logical choices, but I'll get to them later. For West Ham, they're home and against Southampton, who have given up multiple goals in their last four trips, including a 3-0 loss at West Brom. I was tentative on this matchup, but then I looked at Southampton's away form and combined with home fans, I'm backing the Hammers. I took Lingard over Michail Antonio ($19) midweek because he was cheaper and for the most part, it worked out. Antonio got the goal and 26.9 fantasy points, but Lingard got the assist and finished with 25.3 fantasy points. Yes, Antonio is more likely to brace, but Lingard is on the ball more and could be on a PK if West Ham get another after Declan Rice ($9) hit the post against West Brom. Lingard provides some salary relief, but he still has decent upside and actually has better odds to score than Firmino. James Ward-Prowse ($13) will get chances on the opposite end because West Ham prefer to play on the counter, but I'd pass on him in GPPs because of his lack of goal-scoring. Unlike Liverpool, there is value in other guys like Tomas Soucek ($14), even in cash games. While I'd normally fade Soucek, this a match West Ham need to win and I think Soucek will be around the box a lot, and that's what led to a goal and 24.5 floor points midweek. He's taken 13 shots in the last four matches, which backs that theory, and he gives you a floor around 10 points to go with decent goal upside for cheap. I don't want to call him safe, but he has 10 goals this season.
Kelechi Iheanacho, LEI v. TOT ($19): Both Leicester City and Tottenham need to win. Leicester are home and have a better back line, and Iheanacho actually has better odds to score than Harry Kane ($22). Kane might be a perfect GPP option because everyone will be glued to Salah, but I still prefer Iheanacho, who has 11 goals in his last 11 matches and should be rested after coming off the bench (and scoring) midweek. Spurs were kind of outmatched against Villa last game, and I think the same could happen against Youri Tielemans ($13) and Wilfred Ndidi ($10) in the midfield. Villa totaled 20 shots in that game and Leicester could be in a similar range, with Iheanacho most likely to hit the back of the net. When these teams met in December, Leicester feasted on the counter, winning 2-0 away from home. Jamie Vardy ($17) is the GPP play, but he hasn't shown enough in the last two months to recommend. I'd rather save money on Tielemans and hope he whips in another goal from outside the box. As for Tottenham, I'd stack them if you decide to back any of them. In addition to Kane, Son Heung-Min ($19) and Gareth Bale ($16) can both have huge performances. I think if Tottenham win they'll score multiple goals because if that happens, Leicester will need to push for an answer. While I think Leicester are in the better spot, Tottenham winning behind three or four goals is a possibility. It was only a couple weeks ago that Leicester lost 4-2 at home to Newcastle after going down early.
Patrick Bamford, LEE v. WBA ($21): Before the season, did anyone think Bamford would have the second-best odds to score on the final day? Leeds are the second-biggest favorite and Bamford has matched his goal total from the Championship last season (16) in 400 fewer minutes. It's rare when a player takes his second-tier form and converts that to the Premier League. I'm slightly worried that Bamford may be tired and that he hasn't been in form to close the season. He's started every match for Leeds and that's caught up with him outside of recent performances against Southampton and Tottenham. Still, Leeds scored five against West Brom last meeting, and the Baggies have allowed multiple goals in five of their last six. Bamford is most likely to score, but it wouldn't be surprising if Leeds scored three and Bamford wasn't one of them. Rodrigo ($18) is suddenly in form and Jack Harrison ($18) can go off in any matchup, while Raphinha ($16) and Stuart Dallas ($13) provide salary relief and set pieces. I mentioned Matheus Pereira ($18) as a GPP option midweek and that's the case again since he seems to get one or two good chances every match, though he's a doubt with a knock.
I don't believe in Man City being the third-biggest favorite on the slate, but if you want to back them, go ahead. Ferran Torres ($18) could be on set pieces if Ilkay Gundogan ($16) misses out. Raheem Sterling ($20) and Gabriel Jesus ($19) are fine for GPPs, but I'm not sold on them scoring multiple goals in this matchup, mainly because Everton have something to play for.
I wouldn't use Chelsea or Arsenal in cash games, but both are in play to score multiple goals. The problem is that none of their players have consistent floors and set pieces seem to always swap players. Nicolas Pepe ($17) braced last match, but this time it could be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ($19), while Bukayo Saka ($13) and Martin Odegaard ($10) are decent value options. Timo Werner ($21) is expensive for a player who has been unlucky in front of net all season, but that's how tournaments are won. Mason Mount ($18) is a tad safer, while Christian Pulisic ($15) and Hakim Ziyech ($14) could both rack up opportunities if Chelsea aren't winning in the second half. I don't think Villa will be a push-over at home, so I'll probably stay away.
DEFENDERS
Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV at BRN ($15): If you can find room for Alexander-Arnold, do it. Some will be fine with saving two bucks on Andrew Robertson ($13), but I doubt he gets two assists again. Alexander-Arnold has been awesome to close the season, scoring at least 19 fantasy points in eight of the last nine matches, helped by almost four chances created per 90. He should be involved plenty Sunday and another 20-point floor is possible with upside. Otherwise, I wouldn't spend up on anyone else because no one has the same floor and upside combination as Alexander-Arnold.
Joe Bryan, FUL v. NEW ($6): Teammate Tim Ream ($5) is a dollar cheaper than Bryan, but I'd rather spend that dollar and hope for another goal. In addition to playing more forward and possibly being on set pieces, Bryan has hit double-digit fantasy points in four of six starts this season compared to just one for Ream. Other value options include Jayden Bogle, Brandon Williams and Patrick van Aanholt, all for six bucks each. This may be the cheapest van Aanholt has ever been, but he hasn't had a good fantasy season. If you're looking for the highest floors, I'd start with the Crystal Palace center-backs, who will be on their back feet against Liverpool.
GOALKEEPER
Martin Dubravka, NEW at FUL ($7): Alisson Becker ($14) is the only goalkeeper I'd spend up for and even then, you're taking him over Alexander-Arnold. Given the wide range of value options, there's no reason to spend up at goalkeeper. Whether it's Dubravka or Mark Gillespie in net, I'm not confident in Fulham's ability to score. You could also try Emiliano Martinez ($7) and hope Chelsea have one of their matches when they have tons of opportunities but can't convert any. I'm not afraid of using Aaron Ramsdale ($8) in a home finale, while Rui Patricio ($10) or John Ruddy ($10) will face a second-tier Man United team. I also like Illan Meslier ($11) or Kiko Casilla ($5) if Pereira misses out.
